Ciel tried to stand up straight through his panting. We weren't even moving that much. I glanced back at the earl but he gave me a look. A look that told me to back off.

My attention quickly averted to Aleister as he wore a sly grin.

"Alright. Time to talk." I said as I raised my arm and pointed my index finger in his face. "Why did you-"

My sentence of rage was cut off as I felt a slap on my wrist, followed by a tight grip. I looked back to see Ciel grasping it, then he forcefully jerked my arm down. The young earl cleared his throat as he closed his eye whilst putting on a smirk. "Lord Druitt. What a party to start off the season huh?"

Ah, butter him up huh? Good plan Ciel.

"Hmmm, Why yes! You know I always throw the top balls of each season! It is glamorous and gleams bright like the yellow rays of the morning sun!"

I stared at this Lord Druitt as Ciel cringed. "Yes, yes. But, I have some business to talk about and would like to talk about it in private." Ciel added as I looked to him.

Get him alone, okay I got it.

Aleister smiled, "Yes. Quite right, some men would like to see you too Phantomive. So you run along while I dance the night with this beautiful robin.."

I felt his arm snake around my waist as he pulled me closer to his body. "Uh...uhhh" My body vibrated in shivers as I stared up at Druitt's face. "Right, but I would like for both of you to accompany me."

Ciel looked a bit disgusted, I stared at his eye in shock. Ciel moved his hands to my shoulders and pulled me forward. But Aleister only tightened his grip. "Come with me young robins."

I let out a deprived sigh, deciding to just let him pull me down the hall. I noticed Ciel looked around the ballroom, I guess trying to find Sebastian but had no luck. The party's music slowly became faint as we enetered a room on the second floor. The light flickered on and the room illuminated. At least five men sat there, snickering crudely by the window in the back.

"And he came! I knew that dog would sniff his way over here, ahaha!" One of the men said. He had shaggy blonde hair and a beared. But what really alarmed me was his strange accent.

Ciel shrugged, "Yes, call me dog if you like but at least I don't live in the sewers."

Who were these people? These...thugs?

I tried to walk closer to Ciel but Aleister kept me from it, his hand now on my hip. I kept my mouth shut, figuring the best thing right now is to stay quiet.

"Now, tell me Phantomhive. Is the mighty dog even on patrol today?"

Ciel intertwined his fingers, "Maybe, but does it matter? Hm. Well whatever, you all are already suspects and witnesses." I watched as the boy reached in his suit's pocket and pulled out a letter. He showed it slyly in the man's face.

What a turn of events. Ciel kept his cool, like he planned this out even! Gosh, maybe he did. I was so lost.

"The...the.."

"Yes, The Queen of England that's right. Now that that's settled, let me introduce you to Rayne Elizabeth. She has something to tell you."

Now I caught on. Thank goodness for that because I would've been stuck out there.

I lifted my head at Ciel's words and then cleared my throat. The case was on, maybe Ciel did know this would happen.

"I was kidnapped, and brought here to London. By...Aleister Chamber, Lord Druitt. Or better yet, it may have been you goons." I accused outloud. I tried my best not to meet Ciel's eye, for fear he might scrutinize me or something.

Aleister gasped and chucked me away. "I did not!"

My eyes widen in shock as I looked back at him. But...he did. I know he did. I could feel Ciel glaring but I ignored him. My attention suddenly went to a faint voice in the back of the room.

"They're on to us..get'em."

His voice was almost whispering, and it was clear he wasn't talking to the five men. My eyes trailed to the window and I saw a small light peer in. "Get down!" I yelled out and tackled Ciel to the ground.

My ears began to ring as a loud bang echoed and glass shattered. Bit's of shards landed on me but I could care less. I stood up and looked around, my hair was probably filled with glass beads. However, there were no bodies or any trace of people in this room. Hastily, I grabbed Ciel's wrist and pulled him up.

I dashed out of the room and down the hall. Still, the music was playing and people were dancing. No sign of Sebastian, Grell, Druitt or any of the strange men. I kept running as fast as I possibly could in this stupid dress.

"Sta-...Sto...stop!" Ciel yelled out and I halted. His face grew red as he coughed and wheezed. Whilst panting and bending over. I looked back and sighed, "Ciel! We weren't even going that fast how can you possibly be exhuasted!?"

He didn't answer me as he caught his breath, "Just, shut it will you!" He gasped out.

I clenched my jaw then backed up into a room. The door opened and I squealed; falling down onto my back. Ciel walked in after me, keeping the door open with his palm. "Ah! What are you two doing in here!?"

I sat up and looked back to see Druitt pointing at us dramatically. "You're alive?"

"And swell, with the beauty of daisy gleaming under a sun's-"

"Okay I get it!" I cut him off rudely and stood up. Ciel wore an annoyed look as he stood next to me. "Alright Druitt. Time to talk, who were those men? And what did they know of the missing women?"

"And me!" I cut in.

"I ought to know myself!" Aleister squirmed.

"Wait...you don't know?" I asked, watching Aleister smiled, "Too many questions! I already answered!" He pulled out a remote and flipped a switch. Purple gass sprayed from the ceilings. I quickly covered my nose (now knowing what to expect) and watched as Druitt fled the room. Next to me there was a thump and I looked down.

"Ciel!" I yelled out accidentally, but it was too late. Pretty soon, I succumbed to unconsciousness as well...

"Mom! Mom get up! Mom get up please!"

I shook her shoulders over and over again. But her body kept still and her eyes stayed shut. Tears poured down my face as I jerked her body. "Please. Please!"

The world slowly began to fade away.

I gasped out and my eyes opened, but I saw blackness. I tried to move but my wrist were binded behind my back. I moved my head and felt a cloth tied over my eyes. Great.

"Alright. Get'er up!"

I felt hands pull me to my feet and I struggled. There was no music, no sign of enjoyment whatsoever.

I kept struggling until I felt a numbing pain in my stomach. My breath was caught in my throat, but the hit seemed to have made the cloth loose. I waited patiently for the white sheet to seep down to the bridge of my nose.

"You better tell me what's in that letter brat!" Hey I knew that voice, it was that blonde guy with the strange accent.

I heard a chuckle and then more words. "Please. Like a brain like yours would understand it."

Rude, British, feminine...

Ciel! He was here too. Appearantly being interrogated as I entered the room. I was dropped to my knees and I felt a tight grip in my hair. My hat had fallen off somewhere.. apparently. "If you don't tell me Phantomhive I'll kill'er!"

"Che. Go ahead. I won't show you the letter. You'll just read it then try to hide more plans. What you don't know is that, no suspect has ever escaped the Phantomhives. I'm the Queen's Guard Dog for a reason." Ciel said.

I moved my head some more, slightly; but it was enough for the cloth to fall from my eyes. I stared at Ciel who was also tied up, he looked pretty beat despite his attitude. We were in a office it looked like, and I saw again those four men.

I caught my breath as I felt the barrow of a gun pressed up to my chin. "I will escape. You have no idea what I'm on too."

Ciel sighed, now looking bored. "Yes. You are right I don't know. You may even have no part in what I'm searching for. But, you still are a suspect. And suspects don't get out. So I suggest you leave her and release me before things go the wrong way. Whatever you are doing, this letter must've spooked you. So if you want it that badly. Go ahead and read it. It's in my pocket."

How? How can he possibly be so calm? Ciel was acting like this was normal, or that he had the upper hand. (A tied up kid having the upper hand seemed so backwards, but this was Ciel here)

I did feel relief as the man released my hair and put the gun away. I think I caught on now, Ciel pretty much admitted it...these guys had no part in our case.

Just too problems unfortunately merging. I wonder if Druitt did this on purpose. The man snatched the letter from Ciel's pocket and opened it.

"Huh? It's..blank."

Ciel smirked then slowly started to laugh. Yes that's right laugh, but it wasn't a real one. Ciel just gave the most cruel, sadistic chuckle I've ever beard. "You are a rat! Hahah. You felt for it you stupid rat!"

The man grew angry, and pointed the gun at him. "Die!"

Ciel gasped, "Sebastian."

I closed my eyes as I heard four back-to-back bullets.

It was silent. Too silent. I opened an eye to see what happened. I gasped at the sight. Sebastian stood, hunched over with bullets pressed inbetween his fingers. I saw the bodies of all four men dead on the ground. Bleeding from, wait..utensils in there bodies? "How many times must I have to catch bullets."

"Until one hit's me." Ciel said back at his butler.

The man stood speechless and slowly began to back up."H-how..?"

"What did I tell you?" Ciel said as he chuckled (again). Now standing up and massaging his wrist. Sebastian stood up as well holding the rope.

The man walked to me and grabbed my by the hair again (again!). This time, reloading the gun and holding it to my head. But he made sure the barrow was pressed deep into my skin which actually pinched a little.

"Get away. I'll kill her!"

"Ha! Worthless. I'm done here..."

Ciel said as he approached me and slowly began to pull the cloth back up. Now I was blinded; gee, thanks Ciel!. The man watched and growled. "What do you mean..?"

I could only listen and wait. Surely we'll get out of here...if Sebastian could catch flying bullets..these surely had no chance!

"What I mean is..You're still a suspect. But an unnecessary one. And like I've been telling you, suspects...witnesses..don't get out."

Witness huh? Was Ciel living up to his word by covering my eyes?

"Sebastian, this is an order! Get me and her out of here and leave no traces behind."

It all became silent for a second and I felt a strangely dark aura around. Maybe, maybe it was a good thing I couldn't see. I could feel the darkness around, it was kind of scaring me and suddenly..I became very exhuasted.

"Yes..My lord."

I could of sworn I heard a scream. A nasty, blood-curdling scream but I couldn't tell. The blindfold then fell from my face as Sebastian untied it. "Are you alright Miss Rayne?"

"Yes." I said and stood up. My heart jumped as I looked around, we were in the ballroom. But, how!? "Good. We will be taking our leave now."

I nodded, and glanced to Ciel. My eyes went back to Sebastian suspiciously. He led us towards the carriage. "If you don't mind me asking, where's Grell?"

"Oh, I did recall him saying he had a job here." Sebastian said as he helped me into the seat. "Right.." I said and watched as Ciel sat across from me.

Sebastian shut the carriage door closed after he got in, and Ciel hit his cane softly on the ceiling. "So, how come the letter was blank?" I asked. I'll keep the whole, Sebastian catching bullets, my lord thing to myself.

For now at least.

"Oh it wasn't." He said as he opened and removed the blank sheet of paper covering it. "Just a simple trick for a fool. Sadly, we'll have to cross Aleister off the list of suspects. If he isn't the one taking women. Someone else is.."

I let out a yawn and leaned against the window. "Hmph. But he brought me here..I know it."

"Or maybe he simply led you to someone else. This case seems to be a lot deeper than it looks."

By that time I felt myself drifting to sleep. This was a long day, and I just hoped I could get home soon...

"Do you think it might be from the underworld?" Ciel's soft voice said clearly to Sebastian who replied, "Maybe. If it is.."

"Then those women are dead."

"Quite. But we can still solve this case if we go to him." Sebastian responded.

Ciel shrugged, "Right...But what about, her."

"Yes. She is quite misterious. Should I look into her background master?"

"No, not yet. We'll wait until we finish this case. I'm pretty sure the truth will come from her through that process. Until then, keep her comfortable. Try to find out what exactly she knows..Everyone is a suspect now."

"Yes, my lord."

DOOONE! I really put a lot into this chapter. I'm sorry it if was a bit confusing! I'm really tired now so I'll go back and edit tomorrow. Pretty much, Aleister was able to dig his way out of interrogation by throwing Ciel and Rayne into the hands of some goons. (Sneaky Druitt)

It was a turnaround but now they are back on track. (And actually got some answers out of it) now Rayne is suspected more and all becomes more...mysterious.

Stay tuned for the next chapter as they go visit...'Him' to see if this case involves death.

Ahehehehehe~